I too have fond memories of Gatwick from my younger days, eg seeing a Jetstar like a little VC10 (did it really need 4 engines?) and many exotic visitors.
I recall a TU-104 having trouble taking off, it aborted a couple of times, and it appeared to taxi back beyond the runway threshold and started its roll before the runway proper (from grass??). Is that likely or is my memory playing tricks? I don't know what the problem would have been - maybe weight? Were procedures a bit more lax in those days?
Also saw my first close-up of a go-around, a BUA VC10, due to another aircraft (a small prop job I recall) being rather sluggish to exit the runway about half way down. Spectacular for me at the time, rather mundane I suspect for most of you. It seemed to go SO close to the ground before powering up and away...